CONCERNS raised over racial discrimination at a hospital trust have been highlighted in a new report.

The findings emerged in a study carried out by the workforce race equality standard team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The report found black and minority ethnic (BME) staff at the trust were more likely to face disciplinary action than white members of staff.

They were also not getting the same opportunities, such as being shortlisted for senior jobs, or getting funding for extra training.

The results of an NHS national staff survey were also highlighted by the group, and showed the percentage of BME workers who experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from staff in the past 12 months was 44 per cent.

This was a sharp rise from the 30 per cent recorded the year before.

The report is recommending several improvements to the way the trust works in a bid to improve the experiences of BME staff.

A trust spokesman said: “The trust board welcomes this report, which has been made available on our public website, and is fully committed to developing a culture of equality, fairness and accountability within the organisation.

“The board has agreed short-term actions up to the end of March to address the issues identified in the report.

“The longer term strategy to progress race equality will be taken forward by the trust’s new leadership team when they take over.”

The trust was given an inadequate rating and placed in special measures following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection last year.

The team found BME staff felt there was a culture of fear.

The chief executive and chairman of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which has an outstanding CQC rating, are taking on the same roles at the Brighton trust from April 1 in a bid to improve its performance.